From our archives:

85 years ago

In addition to the four beautiful trophies presented for the forthcoming gliding and soaring competition at Sutton Bank, near Thirsk, a prize of £50 had been offered by Cellon Company, a well-known manufacturer, to the first British pilot to fly 50 miles on a British-built sail-plane. The Duke of Devonshire attended the opening of the Leeds Universities new sports pavilion on the University Playing Fields, at Weetwood. Speaking at the occasion the Duke said it was an extremely interesting and happy occasion in the history of the University, and he was just glad that the pavilion was put to good use, and not been used by elderly gentleman who gather to indulge in criticisms which were seldom helpful. And Dr Dollfuss, the Austrian Chancellor, had been shot and wounded by a gunman at a Parliament building in Vienna.

50 years ago

York’s film theatre had announced the first film to be shown would be an X-rated certificate. Opening the theatre, the Earl of Harewood, former Chancellor of the University, would then be given the pleasure of addressing the audience before the Danish film The Red Mantle received its first British premiere. According to publicity officer Melinda Hunt the event would be a real scoop for York, “In London this sort of premiere would cost about £6 a ticket, but we’re doing it for 10s. We’ve got to be realistic,” said Mrs Hunt. School meals were still being served in Scarborough, despite attempts by teachers, at two undisclosed schools, to stop supervising school meals. Members of the National Union of Public employees had been told, not to undertake any additional duties. And Hull’s lorry drivers had been blamed for a price rise of fish in the York area, after filleted haddock had rocketed from about 36s to 53s in the space of ten days.

20 years ago

According to scientists at the University of York cucumbers may be cool, but carrots contained their own anti-freeze. Scientists believed that the new discovery could lead to better quality frozen veg and that the pure anti-freeze protein could also help with the rapid freezing of tissue for medical use. And North Yorkshire baronet Sir Charles Legard had the pleasure sniffing out a winner at the Bloodhound Breeders, Brough Centenary Day in Scarborough.